We’re Not Business as Usual

At Gies College of Business, we believe in thinking big and attaining excellence. That’s because our College is filled with visionary leaders and innovators—people who push boundaries, who achieve, who lead—people who aren’t afraid to examine the status quo and turn it on its head.

Here, we enthusiastically embrace new possibilities. We encourage big thinking. We take bold action. All of that ensures a business education that is real and relevant and rigorous—one that encourages each student’s creativity and fosters the next big idea.

Gies College of Business is where future leaders in business acquire the tools they need to unleash their potential.

Tradition of Excellence

Global Experience

54% of undergraduate business students study abroad at least once, and a global consulting trip to Brazil, China, India, or South Africa is integrated into the full-time MBA program.

Job Placement

Career-building is a skill developed in every student who joins the College of Business. Our placement rate for undergraduate students is 96% (FY ’16).

Value

In a recent nationwide survey ILLINOIS was ranked #5 in terms of return on investment; ahead of all Ivy League, private, and other Big Ten universities

Experiential Learning

At ILLINOIS, we believe in augmenting class work with numerous opportunities for additional enrichment. From study abroad trips to case competitions to working at the world’s largest student-run consultancy, students have the opportunity to excel both inside and outside the classroom.

Alumni

ILLINOIS has the largest alumni network in the country, and there are 61,000+ living business alumni worldwide. Wherever you are in the world, you’re never far from a fellow Illini.

Fulbright Scholar Rachel Jacoby Will Teach in Malaysia

Graduating senior and new Fulbright Scholar Rachel Jacoby ’18 ACCY/BA views her business education much differently than when she first arrived on the University of Illinois campus. Then, she was expecting to travel along a fairly conventional course. “When I first came into college, I thought that I would take a very traditional path,” she said. “I assumed that I would study business and just go right into the working world.”

She soon discovered, though, that she had the freedom here to look beyond that stereotypical view of business education to one that is much more rounded, and more aligned with her interests. As she explained, “I was lucky enough to have mentors who encouraged me to pursue the interests I had outside of that traditional business career path.”

A Look Back

Innovation and Excellence in Finance Education

Together these three faculty members have devoted 100 years of service to the Department of Finance (from left, Jim Gentry, professor emeritus; Louis Chan, professor and department chair; and Roger Cannaday, associate professor emeritus). As the College celebrates its 100th year, Perspectives will include a series of Centennial snapshots that focus on the history of our departments. In this issue, we share a snapshot of the story of our Department of Finance through the reflections of our faculty and a timeline of department milestones.